by Tanya Steele
Quietly humming away in Yarra Glen is the first publically available electric vehicle (EV) charger in the Yarra Ranges, having been recently installed.
The new 50k watt EV charger was installed and began operating on November 15 2022 outside the Memorial Hall in Yarra Glen.
Yarra Glenergy hosts the region’s publicly owned charger and Ryrie Ward Councillor Fiona McAllister is positive about the development.
“Privately-managed electric vehicle chargers have been available in the area for a few years now, in areas of the hills and the Yarra Valley, but I am thrilled that we now have this charger on public land, available at all hours for residents and visitors alike,” Cr McAllister said.
Yarra Glenergy Vice President Trent Evans is pleased with the level of usage at the charging station.
“We’re getting about five or six cars through a day, making about $600 to $700 a month in revenue,” Mr Evans said.
Cr McAllister notes the importance of having more publicly available chargers in the area as more people switch to the use of electric vehicles, stating that if the infrastructure for charging is there, then more people will visit our communities.
“It’s also heartwarming to know that the price of charging your car in Yarra Glen – which is a fraction of what re-fuelling a petrol car costs – goes right back to be re-invested in the community, which I think is a tremendous result,” Cr McAllister added.
The new installation has been placed to support the needs of both residents and visitors to the town who require a charge if they are out in the community for longer drives.
“We wanted it to be obviously as close to town as possible because if people do park their car for charging, we want them to be able to spend half an hour in town,” Mr Evans said.
Mr Evans is local to the area and uses the station himself and often meets other EV car drivers when using the station and they chat about their cars while topping up.
“People come out here obviously for the wineries and restaurants but also if you go into the snow, the nearest snowfields, you end up coming up here through to Mansfield,” he said.
Usage since the station opened has been regular and slowly growing.
There are hopes by Mr Evans that more stations will be added throughout the region in the future.
